Los Angeles mayor declares emergency over warehouse fire

By Chad Terhune

LOS ANGELES, June 20 (Reuters) – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency on Saturday over a large warehouse fire that has burned for several days.

• The fire started on Wednesday in the city’s historic Boyle Heights neighborhood near downtown.

• As part of the emergency declaration, Bass asked the state government to expedite access to state and federal resources and other disaster relief programs.

• The mayor also requested that the state waive regulations that may hinder response efforts.

• The city of Los Angeles and L.A. county have opened locations for families seeking relief from fire-related smoke and fumes.

(Reporting by Chad Terhune; Editing by Sergio Non and Christian Schmollinger)